Trial Train service from India to Bhutan border via Bangladesh Proposed
29 May 2024
The Government of India has proposed a trial train service from India to the Bhutanese border via Bangladesh. In response, Bangladesh Railway has prepared two route proposals and sought input from various ministries and departments.
Proposed Routes
1. Proposed Route by the Government of India:
Gede (India) - Darshana - Ishwardi - Abdulpur - Parbatipur - Chilahati - Haldibari (India) - Dalgaon (near Bhutan border in Assam).
2. Proposed Route by Bangladesh Railway:
Route 1: Darshana - Chilahati - Haldibari - Jalpaiguri - Dhupguri - Falakata - Dalgaon - Hasimara station (closest to Bhutan). Goods can be transported to Bhutan by truck from Hasimara, which is 18 km from Phuentsholing land port in Bhutan.
Route 2: Chilahati - Haldibari - Kokrajhar (India) - Gelephu (Bhutan).
A 58-km railway from Kokrajhar to Gelephu is under construction. Until its completion, trains can run up to Hasimara.
Existing Border Points
Bangladesh Railway currently has nine interchange points with Indian Railway, with five routes open for passenger and goods trains:
- Benapole (Bangladesh) - Petrapole (India)
- Darshana (Bangladesh) - Gede (India)
- Rohanpur (Bangladesh) - Singabad (India)
- Birol (Bangladesh) - Radhikapur (India)
- Chilahati (Bangladesh) - Haldibari (India)
Out of these, three routes are used for both passenger and goods trains, while two are used solely for passenger trains.
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